Trout Fishing Report-White River-Arkansas
From Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionMarch 7, 2007 Edition
White River:
Gaston's White River Resort said browns are being caught in the 2 to 4 pound class and larger. Ten pound browns have been somewhat common. This is the first shad "run" the area has had in four or five years. Most browns are being caught on #9 and #7 Countdown Rapalas, 1/8 ounce white jigs, Silver Rogues and spoons. Water generation has been running around the clock, with 6 to 7 units running fulltime. Power Eggs in yellow and white with Glo-worms are still catching plenty of rainbows. The gold Cleo Spoons and Buoyant Spoons will catch rainbows as well. Fly fishing on this high water will probably be best with red San Juan Worms, white wooly buggers, white shad flies and Egg Patterns in yellow, peach and red. The rainbows are hitting white/chartreuse and yellow Power Bait. Other baits that are working on the rainbows are white worms, gold Cleos and Buoyant Spoons. Fly fisherman are using egg patterns, wooly buggers, and red San Juan Worms can help weigh down a stringer. Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said fishing the White River has been good on Berkley Power Eggs in yellow and white along with Power Wigglers in chartreuse or white. With generation, Buoyant spoons, Colorado spoons and Little Cleos are the baits of choice. Flyanglers have done well with little generation on olive woolly buggers, San Juan worms in bright colors, white doll flies (jigs) and “unreal” eggs in peach or white Brown trout are being caught on Countdowns, Rogues and nightcrawlers.
Bull Shoals Lake :
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 653.93 feet MSL. Wilderness Trail (870-445-2703) said the lake temperature dropped a few degrees and is now back at 43 degrees. Anglers have been keying on the upper part of the lake, working the front of the creeks and pockets with Suspending Rogues in the morning, Wiggle Warts through the day and football jigs when they can get out of the wind. The smallmouth are not very active and are in deep water, which was almost impossible to fish with the recent 20 to 30 mph winds. Walleye are still roaming and the bass anglers caught quite a few of them working banks with jerk baits and crankbaits. Here again, the main lake points and secondary points is where they found them. Walleye anglers should spend some time casting Shad Raps, Suspending Rogues or Lucky Crafts around the points until the lake temperature starts to climb and the walleye start to stage up for their spawn.
LakeNorfork:
As of Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 551.62 feet MSL. Cranfield Junction Bait and Tackle (870-492-5141) said the lake is at normal level and clear. Crappie are in 16 to 50 feet of water and biting fairly well on a jig-and-minnow combination. Catfishing is poor. Stripers are fair on jerk baits fished near bluffs emptying into the river channel. Largemouth bass are biting well on suspending jerk baits. A few walleye are being taken by bass anglers in the early mornings on jerk baits fished near main lake points.
Norfork Tailwater:
Gene’s Trout Dock (870-499-5381) said water releases at Norfork Dam have been up and down. Two turbines at the Norfork Dam have been generating inconsistent patterns. Trout tend to sit back and wait for even flows. Be patient and work the riffles, banks, tree limbs and shallows. Get your lure down to the tips of the moss by slowing your boat down.